Plastic open end wrench



Oct.

1959 s. RHOADS 2,909,954.

PLASTIC OPEN END WRENCH Filed Feb. 5, 1958 FIG. I.

FIG.3. FIG. 2.

FIQ, 6.

INVENTOR Sfahley Rho ads United States Patent PLASTIC OPEN END WRENCHStanley Rhoads, Tracy, Calif.

Application February 3, 1958, Serial No. 712,852

Claims. (Cl. 81-186) This invention relates to hand tools and moreparticularly to a hand wrench.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an open end wrenchof completely novel construction which is extremely durable, of lightweight, and entirely electrically insulated.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an open end wrenchof the above type that is reinforced at points of greatest stress, isbrightly colored, and has a very high strength to weight ratio.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a plastic open end wrenchbearing the above objects in mind which is of simple construction, has aminimum number of parts, is inexpensive to manufacture and eflicient inoperation.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention,reference may be had to the following detailed description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a plastic open end wrench made in accordancewith one form of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary elevational view of a modified form ofconstruction;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, showing a still further modifiedform of the present invention;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, showing a still further modifiedform of the present invention;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 1, illustrating another embodimentof the present invention;

Figure 6 is a transverse cross sectional view taken along line 6-6 ofFigure 1; and

Figure 7 is a transverse cross sectional view taken along line 7-7 ofFigure 4.

Referring now more in detail to the drawing, and more particularly toFigures 1 and 6 thereof, an open end wrench 10 made in accordance withone form of the present invention is shown to be entirely constructed ofa strong, colored, luminescent plastic material. This wrench has a nutand bolt engaging head portion 12 with jaw members and a rearwardlytapered handle 13 that are so dimensioned as to provide the greatestamount of strength for the material used. This material is not onlydurable and of light weight, but is also brightly colored andelectrically insulated.

In Figure 2 of the drawing, a modified form of construction 15 is shownwherein a metallic insert 17 is embedded within the head portion 16 withjaw members to provide a liner for the nut and bolt receiving socket soas to further rigidify the wrench and prevent damage thereto. Thisinsert 17 is also provided with a plurality of outwardly disposedarcuate projections 18 on all sides which are embedded within theplastic material so as to prevent removal thereof.

In Figure 3 of the drawing, a still further modified form of the presentinvention 20 is shown to have a metallic insert 22 which not only formsa liner for the bolt and nut receiving socket of the head portion 21,but also has a rearwardly tapering section 23 with perforations 24. This2 section 23 further rigidifies theconnection or juncture between thehead and handle portion and the perforations 24 allow some of the moldedplastic material to enter therein and form an interlock. between theinsert and main body portions.

In Figures 4 and 7 of the drawing, a further modified form of theinvention is shown wherein the wrench 25 has a metallic insert 27embedded within the nut and bolt receiving socket portion of the head 26with jaw members, wherein the insert has diametrically oppositelyextending legs 28 at each end that are deeply embedded within the moldedplastic material so as to define the very rigid jaw that is firmlyentrenched with the plastic material.

Referring now more specifically to Figure 5 of the drawing, aparticularly rigid and indestructible wrench 30 is shown wherein ametallic insert is embedded within substantially all of the plasticmolded material that defines the wrench. This insert includes a linerportion 32 for the nut and bolt receiving socket portion of the head 31with jaw members and a rearwardly tapering section 34 that terminates inan elongated shank 33 that is embedded within substantially the entirelength of the tapered handle 35. For reasons similar to those heretoforedescribed, the tapered section 34 and shank 33 are provided withperforations 36 which allow some of the molded plastic material to entertherein and form an interlock between the insert and the main body ofplastic material. It will be recognized that this particularconstruction is extremely rigid and durable, while providing theelectrical insulating qualities hereinbefore described.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shallbe understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope ofthe present invention as defined by the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of theUnited States is:

1. An open end wrench comprising, in combination, an elongated main bodyportion of substantially rigid shatterproof plastic material and havingopen jaw members provided with a metallic insert embedded therein, saidjaw members and the insert defining a nut and bolt receiving portion atone end and an integral handle portion extending rearwardly therefromtoward the opposite end, said main body portion being of generallyuniform thickness throughout the entire length thereof from said nut andbolt receiving portion to the outer end of said handle portion, and saidhandle portion being substantially longer than said nut and boltreceiving portion.

2. The combination according to claim 1, and said metallic insert liningthe bolt and nut receiving portion and having a plurality of outwardlydisposed arcuate projections on all sides embedded within said plasticmaterial of said head portion.

3. The combination according to claim 1, and said metallic insert liningthe bolt and nut receiving head portion, said insert having a rearwardlytapering section embedded in said plastic material, and said taperingsection having a plurality of perforations for receiving some of saidplastic material for interlocking said insert and said plastic main bodyportion together.

4. The combination according to claim 1, and said metallic insert liningthe bolt and nut receiving head portion, said insert having a pair ofoppositely extending legs one at each side of said head portion embeddedin said plastic material.

5. The combination according to claim 1, and said metallic insert liningthe bolt and nut receiving head portion, said insert having a rearwardlytapering section embedded within said head and a rearward terminal shankextension embedded within said handle portion, said tapering section andsaid shank having perforations for 3 4 receiving said plastic materialto form an interlbck there- I FOREIGN PATE S 929,840 Germany July 4,1955 References Cited in the file of this patent 955,548 France June 27,1949 UNITED STATES PATENTS I 5 982,351 France 1951 2,418,638 Hoover Apr.8, 1947 OTHER REFERENCES 2,594,684 Rothe Apr 29, 1952 Modern Plastics,vol. 17, June 1940, page 52(13). 2,720,799 PfOSt 1955 (Copy inScientific Library of the Patent Office.)

